Information handling system adaptive user presence detection

Abstract

End user presence and absence states are determined at an information handling system by analyzing infrared time of flight sensor presence detection information with configuration settings based upon operating conditions at the information handling system. User presence and absence state accuracy is validated and invalidated to analyze and determine optimal configuration settings for each of plural operating conditions, such as the location of the information handling system, ambient light and the availability of plural infrared time of flight sensors, such as the availability of secondary infrared time of flight sensors integrated in peripheral devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An information handling system comprising:
 a housing; 
 a processor disposed in the housing and operable to execute instructions that process information; 
 a memory disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the instructions and information; 
 a graphics processor disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the graphics processor operable to process the information to define a visual image for presentation at a display; 
 a display integrated in the housing and interfaced with the graphics processor, the display operable to present the visual image; 
 an embedded controller disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the embedded controller operable to coordinate communications of input devices to the processor; 
 an infrared time of flight sensor integrated in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the infrared time of flight sensor operable to detect end user presence detection information; and 
 a presence detection module stored in non-transient memory and operable when executed on the processor to determine predetermined operating conditions external to the housing and to apply the predetermined operating conditions to select one of plural configuration policies to apply to the presence detection information for determining a user presence state and a user absence state. 
 
     
     
       2. The information handling system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an adaption service stored in the non-transient memory and operable when executed on the processor to monitor accuracy associated with the user presence state and the user absence state determinations of the presence detection module to adapt the plural configuration policies for the predetermined operating conditions. 
 
     
     
       3. The information handling system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a peripheral device external to the housing and interfaced with the processor, the peripheral device integrating an infrared time of flight sensor to detect end user presence detection information; and 
 wherein the predetermined operating conditions comprise plural available infrared time of flight sensors. 
 
     
     
       4. The information handling system of  claim 3  wherein the plural configuration policies comprise a first sensitivity setting when only one infrared time of flight sensor is detecting the end user presence state and the end user absence state, and a second sensitivity when plural infrared time of flight sensors are detecting the end user presence state and the end user absence state. 
     
     
       5. The information handling system of  claim 4  wherein:
 the housing has first and second housing portions rotationally coupled by a hinge to rotate between open and closed positions; and 
 the plural configuration policies comprise a first sensitivity setting associated with a first rotational orientation and a second sensitivity setting associated with a second rotational orientation. 
 
     
     
       6. The information handling system of  claim 2  wherein:
 predetermined operating conditions comprise a physical location of the information handling system; and 
 the plural configuration policies comprise a sensitivity setting of the infrared time of flight sensor. 
 
     
     
       7. The information handling system of  claim 2  wherein:
 predetermined operating conditions comprise a time of day; and 
 the plural configuration policies comprise a sensitivity setting of the infrared time of flight sensor. 
 
     
     
       8. The information handling system of  claim 1  wherein the adaption service determines accuracy by comparing infrared time of flight sensor user presence state and user absence state determinations against indications of user absence and user presence made through end user inputs at input/output devices. 
     
     
       9. The information handling system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a network module integrated in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the network module operable to communicate with an external server information handling system; 
 wherein the adaption service communicates the predetermined operating conditions and the plural configuration settings to the external server information handling system. 
 
     
     
       10. A method for detecting user presence and absence states at an information handling system, the method comprising:
 monitoring plural sensors at the information handling system to detect predetermined operating conditions; and 
 in response to detecting the predetermined operating conditions, selecting a configuration for configuring an infrared time of flight sensor integrated in the information handling system to determine the end user presence and absence states, the selected configuration associated with the predetermined operating conditions from a set of plural configurations associated with plural predetermined operating conditions. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 monitoring input devices of the information handling system to validate and invalidate the end user presence and end user absence states; and 
 adjusting the plural configurations based upon whether the monitoring input devices validate and invalidate the user presence and user absence states. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  wherein:
 the predetermined operating conditions comprise a physical location of the information handling system; and 
 the selected configuration comprises an infrared time of flight sensitivity setting. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10  wherein:
 the predetermined operating conditions comprise a peripheral device external to the information handling system and integrating an infrared time of flight sensor communicating end user presence detection information to the information handling system; and 
 the selected configuration comprises an infrared time of flight sensitivity setting for the infrared time of flight sensor integrated in the information handling system. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  wherein the peripheral comprises a docking station. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13  wherein the peripheral device comprises a display. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13  wherein the peripheral device comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 communicating the predetermined operating conditions and plural configurations through network to server information handling system; and 
 analyzing the predetermined operating conditions and plural configurations at the server information handling system to refine the set of plural configurations. 
 
     
     
       18. A system for user presence detection, the system comprising:
 an infrared time of flight sensor integrated in an information handling system; and 
 non-transitory memory integrated in the information handling system and storing instructions that when executed on a processor: 
 monitor operating conditions at the information handling system to detect predetermined operating conditions; and 
 in response to the detected predetermined operating conditions, to apply associated configuration settings to the infrared time of flight sensor. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a peripheral device having an integrated infrared time of flight sensor; 
 first associated configuration settings to apply when both infrared time of flight sensors are operational; and 
 second associated configuration settings to apply when only one of the infrared time of flight sensors are operational. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 18  further comprising instructions to adapt the plural configuration settings based upon validation and invalidation of end user presence and end user absence states.